The White House revealed on Monday that President Joe Biden was not receiving Parkinson's Disease treatment and did not see any neurologist beyond his annual physical checkup.
This statement followed a report made by the New York Times regarding visitor logs of a Parkinson's Disease specialist who visited at least eight times.
Biden's Parkinson's Disease Concerns
Ever since Biden's appearance during the first presidential debate last June 27, there have been concerns that Biden could be dealing with an undisclosed illness. During his debate with former President Donald Trump, Biden had a frail appearance, stumbled, and lost his train of thought a couple of times.
Several neurologists who did not examine Bien personally also expressed observations of Parkinson's disease symptoms during the president's public appearance. The symptoms could also be related to the disease, like forward-flexed posture or hypophonic speech.
However, they stressed that they could not diagnose specifically unless a firsthand examination was made.
Visiting Parkinson's Specialist
Meanwhile, the New York Times recently issued a report that stated that a Parkinson's expert went to the White House eight times across a span of eight months. This was based on official visitor logs.
However, the logs do not note the reasons why the doctor visited the White House.
The expert in talks is neurologist Dr. Kevin Cannard. He is a movement disorder specialist and has recently published a Parkinson's Disease study. However, it was unclear whether the doctor visited the White House for the president or for other unrelated meetings.
White House Claims That Biden Is Not Receiving Parkinson's Treatment
On Monday night, White House doctor Dr. Kevin O'Connor revealed that aside from the president's annual physicals, no other checkups with a neurologist were done.
According to Dr. O'Connor, the visits of Dr. Cannard to the White House was just part of his neurological clinics. These were reportedly directed at supporting duty members who were assigned in support of the operations of the White House. He noted that the doctor was not there to treat the president.
Dr. O'Connor noted that even before the pandemic, the neurologist regularly held neurology clinics within the White House Medical Clinic. He also noted that Biden saw Dr. Cannard every year as part of the procedures for his annual physical checkup.
Dr. O'Connor explained that Dr. Cannard was a neurological specialist who examined the president during his annual physicals. He also noted that the findings were included whenever the results of the president's physical were publicly released.
Moreover, based on Biden's latest examination, he did not exhibit any signs of Parkinson's.
In light of the coming presidential elections, Biden has rejected calls made by Democrats, urging him to back out from the run. He has dismissed concerns pertaining to his mental fitness and age.
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